Sub-optimal control laws for minimization of take-off distance for aircrafts 2006-01-2865

The present paper presents a method for the numerical determination of control laws for aircrafts needed for optimization of a pre-established maneuver, applied to a take-off under requirements of FAR-Part 23. The methodology is based on the minimization of penalty functions through of mathematical programming algorithms with numerical integration of the aircraft equations of motion. With the optimum control law it is possible to elaborate efficient strategies for automatic flight control and for orientation of piloted flights. Numerical aspects of the application of this procedure are discussed, these being important for their adequate performance. Results are obtained for the optimization of the take-off distance of a tail-wheel airplane and are compared with the take-off distance obtained by manual control.